Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-07-15
TIE ELECTION LAW AND RECOG-
NTZED PARTIES.

q
The new election law, intended to secure !
.peedv count of the vote requires the prcsld- |
ing officer of eacn election precinct when ShaA
have cast more than 100 votes at the last pre- !
co5inr election to select from among the quail /
ned voters Of the precinct three ]uCEeS anu
fopr clerks. from the different political parties
if demanded as far Us practicable Inc pIanl7
To have a sufficient number OF election Objects
to have two sets, one to proceed with the coIn! ,
while the olhe- Giyi-ion is receiving me D"l'
lots. In the room where the ballots are being
counted no one except election officers ana q
commemorative of each OF the political partes
sbsU he present There are two b&lloI boxes
required Number one is used the irSt hour TO
receive the ballots, and tncn turned over 10 me
counting division, consisting OF two l-nSSs anu
two clerks. While the ballots IN number one
are being counted number two Is receiving
halIots. when the ballots in number one are
/ counted this box is returned to the receiving
/ division and number two is transferred 10 the
/ coming division. This process IS expected 10
rrsuIt in greatly facilitating the count but u IS
rrIefs closely watches, obviously caraDle OF
facilitating frsuds. The interchange OF DalIoI
1,oyps. rene ated through the day, between the
I two divisions of election sticGTS aH0fus htec
1 zveten for substituting ballot boxes prepared
/ I'm advance. WatChfulness IS absolutely neCse-
sarv. # seem, 10 prevent frauds upon the
Increased vigilance is qUlred. 1t appears that
the LEGISLATURE fully appreciated this defect
ard so provided that representative CT c2ch
political narty should be permitted 10
be present to watch the officers. In an
election involving, as Is claimed, no
contest between political parties, rs mat
in August upon the constitutional amendments
the law applies rs well as in general elections
for otlicCrs, and the political parties may edch
and all select representatives to be present and
Witness The count. IS the Prohibition party
assumes not 10 be a political party 1t may ap-
near thsU the witnesses it selects can not llW
/ fnUv he admitted to the counting rooms. This
would leave the new part IN an awkward POSI-
. ton, The letter of the law, however, would
net preclude participation OF the local prohlDl-
tio, examinations In the count. Practical poll
Tics from, the Inception OF the organization OF
nrohIb,t!onIg-n down to the count OF the AL
vote vii have been found necessary, ana WI
exhibit from 1rst to last the most conclutlFt
: evidence Of the insinCcrity Of prohibition Ieau
i ers in oenyIDg the political character ot lhen
, movement II IS to be desired ina
& representatives Of the new pArl
br admitted to witness the count 5
= every voting place in the state 1hey ha'
: this right under The law. 1t VIII he within TIT
power of election officers to exclude them D.
, disregardlnE the spirit of the law. But Demo
, cratic and Republican election officers might a
4 we'll recognize the new party first as last. INT
hest way to dispose of 1t is 10 give no preteN
for the cry of fraud. \ sufficiently large ma
{ i7rifv 8gginst Prohibition, will, If fairly pro
- cured by q fair count, ettGctuallv Kill oil AM
:. srrrress Prohibition as 1t did Greenbackisn
= and Washionesism. !. would be playing int
a. the hands OF the old disgruntled political ad
= yfnturers who have tho lead in the new part
, 10 take them strictly at their word and den
= them recognition as political party. Demo
!. crate and Republican officers should know
u that the disguise which these people assume
q only TO mislead creduIous people. The sheep
clothing Will he cast on permanently on cleo
n ton Dallas News.
p The above is published in full thstsac
T. man, for himself, may Judge the pAgRos
s. of the suggestions offered by the New
THE GAZETTE does not believe that Tsazp
y, is fruitful soil in which to sow such seq
For the purpose of countingsthe ballo'
and insuring fairness in thsE count, thel
:; are t,7o parties to the prSAibision eontes
lie in this state, viz: the Prohibitionists sd
az q the i-Prohibitionists, each of whic
-" is made up Of Democrats an